New Project Offers Early Developmental Screening to Parents & Caregivers

Wed, Mar 12, 2025

Nurturing Algoma focuses on early childhood screening and data collection in partnership with Sault Ste. Marie & Algoma Child & Family Network (CFN)

 

A community project aimed at supporting the healthy development of infants to preschool-aged children has a goal of helping Algoma’s youngest residents reach their full potential.

Nurturing Algoma is launching a month-long developmental screening blitz this April to help families identify their child’s strengths and potential areas for extra support before kindergarten.

Built in collaboration with the Sault Ste. Marie & Algoma Child & Family Network, this developmental screening offers an opportunity for a district-wide ‘check-up’ of children before they enter school. The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) is a well-known and trustworthy tool caregivers can use to screen their child’s development from infancy to age six, covering areas like communication, motor skills, problem-solving, and social interactions.

The program features early childhood specialists from across Algoma, including EarlyON Centres, Algoma Public Health, THRIVE, Algoma Family Services (AFS), Prince Charles Early Learning Centre, Waabinong Head Start, Indigenous Friendship Centre (IFC), and other local organizations to assist with screenings, scoring, feedback, and referrals to additional services if necessary. Caregivers can access screening at a number of these organizations around the district, including at local EarlyONs, Algoma Public Health, and the THRIVE Child Development Centre.   

 

Helping to Shape the Future of Early Childhood Services

The project is also contributing to a national effort to improve early childhood development data. In collaboration with SickKids and Queen’s University, Algoma is participating in a research study that will help build the Canadian Database of Development, Infancy to Six (CanDDIS)—the first of its kind in Canada. Families who take part in the screenings can choose to have their child’s anonymized results included in this database, helping identify service gaps and guide future funding for early years programs.

How to Participate

The Nurturing Algoma screening blitz runs from April 1 – 30, 2025.  A full list of locations offering the screening and instructions on how to access the service will be available online at: www.algomapublichealth.com/nurturingalgoma

For more information or questions, please contact Algoma Public Health at Algoma_asq@algomapublichealth.com.